Information processing apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method capable of printing part of a book file by designating the range. A setting user interface window is displayed from a print setting menu, a desired unit is selected from a print target column, and the range is designated in the selected unit. The designated range is printed including an original page within the designated range and another original page to be printed on the same paper sheet as that of the original page. The range can be designated by an entire book file, chapter, page, or booklet.

This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No.10/236,553, now allowed, filed Sep. 9, 2002, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus andmethod which provide an editing function for, e.g., document datagenerated by a document processing program.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of data such as characters, tables, and images requiredifferent structures which define the data and different editingoperations for the data. Various application programs are provided inaccordance with the type of data. The user uses different applicationsfor different types of data: a character processing program in order toedit characters, a spreadsheet program in order to edit tables, and animage editing program in order to edit images.

In this way, the user generally uses different application programs fordifferent types of data. In general, a document to be created by theuser is made up of a plurality of types of data such as characters andtables, or characters and images, rather than a document formed fromonly one type of data such as characters, tables, or images. To create atarget document containing a plurality of types of data, the user mustuse the printing functions of various applications to print data by therespective applications, and combine the print materials in a desiredorder.

Some programs such as so-called “Office Suite” which forms oneintegrated application from various applications provide a function ofcombining data generated by respective applications into one document.The use of the integrated application allows the user to combine datacreated by respective applications into one target document by using aspecific application included in the integrated application.

However, to assign page numbers to pages when the user creates onetarget document by combining print materials generated by variousapplications, he/she must print out all necessary data, combine theminto a document, and determine page numbers. Each application writesdetermined page numbers on respective pages (to be referred to aslogical pages or original pages) of an original created by theapplication. Even if the application program has a function of assigningpage numbers, the page numbers of discontinuous pages must be designatedby the user. If the pages of the target document are rearranged, pagenumbers must be reassigned in accordance with the rearrangement. Thesepages must also be edited and printed again by an application when notdata contents but merely the format is changed such that a plurality oforiginal pages are combined into one page (to be referred to as aphysical page or print page) as a print material, or single-sidedprinting is changed to double-sided printing.

Since an application which can manage data changes depending on the typeof data, the user must manually provide an interface betweenapplications. This means that much labor is demanded of the user,decreasing the productivity. The many manual operations readily generateerrors.

The use of an integrated application for creating a target documentenables arranging various data in the data state without printing themout. No heavy labor is required in comparison with creation of a targetdocument by combining print materials. However, applications for editingand creating various data are restricted to ones included in theintegrated application, so a user-desired application is not alwaysexploited. A target document created by the integrated application isone document file, and management such as editing and output is done foreach file. The application function poses many constraints on settingthe format of part of the document file. For example, the user mustchange format settings at each portion where the format is changed, andprint a target page again. This leads to much labor and lowproductivity, similar to the above-mentioned method.

Even if a document is printed again after correction or the like, thewhole document must be printed again in the prior art, or the range mustbe designated and printed in original pages. Printing the whole documentagain with respect to partial correction wastes the resource, anddecreases the productivity of all users who share the printingapparatus. In particular, to designate a target print range in originalpages for a document having a layout in which a plurality of originalpages are laid out on one sheet, the user must convert a portion to beprinted into an original page range. This operation is cumbersome,readily generates errors, and decreases the productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the abovesituation, and has as its object to provide an information processingapparatus and method which facilitate designating a target print rangein a document, and increase the availability and productivity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an informationprocessing apparatus and method which enable creating and editing adocument made up of data created by user-desired application programs,and increase the operability and document editing productivity.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention has the followingarrangement.

There is provided an information processing apparatus which performs,for document data, print setting including print format setting of aprint material to be printed by a printing apparatus, comprising

management means for managing generated document data,

designation means for designating a page to be printed by an originalpage serving as a page generated by an application,

determination means for determining a print paper sheet on which theoriginal page designated by the designation means is laid out, out ofprint paper sheets to be printed by the printing apparatus, on the basisof the print format setting set in the document data, and

control means for acquiring, from the management means, document datacorresponding to all original pages to be laid out on the print papersheet determined by the determination means, and controlling an outputso as to print the document data by the printing apparatus,

wherein the print format setting includes setting of laying out aplurality of original pages on one print paper sheet.

According to another arrangement, there is provided an informationprocessing apparatus which performs, for document data, print settingincluding print format setting of a print material to be printed by aprinting apparatus, comprising

management means for managing generated document data,

designation means for designating a page to be printed by a serialnumber of a print paper sheet to be printed by the printing apparatus,

determination means for determining an original page to be laid out onthe print paper sheet having the serial number designated by thedesignation means out of print paper sheets to be printed by theprinting apparatus, and

control means for acquiring, from the management means, document datacorresponding to all original pages determined by the determinationmeans, and controlling an output so as to print the document data by theprinting apparatus.

According to still another arrangement, there is provided an informationprocessing apparatus which performs print setting when document data isprinted by a printing apparatus, comprising

setting storage means for storing a print setting window for selectingwhich of an original page serving as a page generated by an applicationand a serial number of a print paper sheet to be printed by the printingapparatus is used to designate a range to be printed, and for inputtingthe range to be printed that is designated by a selected one of theoriginal page and the serial number of the print paper sheet, andstoring print range setting information input from the print settingwindow, and

control means for controlling an output so as to print, by the printingapparatus, document data of the range designated by the selected one ofthe original page and the serial number of the print paper sheet on thebasis of the print range setting information stored in the settingstorage means.

According to still another arrangement, there is provided an informationprocessing apparatus which performs, for document data, print settingincluding print format setting of a print material to be printed by aprinting apparatus, comprising

management means for managing generated document data separately in aplurality of set chapters,

designation means for designating a print target by an arbitrary chapternumber,

determination means for determining an original page of document dataincluded in the chapter number designated by the designation means fromthe document data managed by the management means, and

control means for acquiring, from the management means, document datacorresponding to all original pages determined by the determinationmeans, and controlling an output so as to print the document data by theprinting apparatus.

According to still another arrangement, there is provided an informationprocessing apparatus which performs print setting when document data isprinted by a printing apparatus, comprising

designation means for designating a range to be printed by a bookletwhen bookbinding printing of sectioning the range into a plurality ofbooklets and printing the range in the booklets is set as a printformat, and

control means for controlling an output so as to print, by the printingapparatus, the document data corresponding to an original page laid outin a designated booklet, on the basis of the print range of the bookletdesignated by the designation means.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a stand-alone document processingsystem;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a computer which implements thedocument processing system;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing an example of a book file structure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are tables showing a list of book attributes;

FIG. 5 is a table showing a list of chapter attributes;

FIG. 6 is a table showing a list of page attributes;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing procedures of opening a book file;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing procedures of importing an electronicoriginal file into a book file;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing procedures of converting application datainto an electronic original file;

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a user interface window when anexisting book file is opened;

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a user interface window when anew book file is opened;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a client-server document processingsystem;

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a preview window in single-sided1-up printing designation;

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of a printing method (single-sidedprinting) designation window;

FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of a window for designating a printtarget;

FIG. 16 is a view showing an example of a display window when a chapteris designated as the print target;

FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of a display window when a printpage is designated as the print target;

FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of a display window when anoriginal page is designated as the print target;

FIG. 19 is a view showing an example of a preview window in double-sided1-up printing designation;

FIG. 20 is a view showing an example of a setting window for N-upprinting designation;

FIG. 21 is a view showing an example of a preview window in single-sided2-up printing designation;

FIG. 22 is a view showing an example of a printing method (bookbindingprinting) designation window;

FIG. 23 is a view showing an example of a preview window in bookbindingprinting designation;

FIG. 24 is a view showing an example of a display window when a bookletis designated as the print target;

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing procedures for designation of a printrange and print control of the designated range;

FIG. 26 is a view schematically showing an example of a job ticketformat;

FIG. 27 is a view for explaining an example of a job ticket whose printrange is designated to print an entire book;

FIGS. 28A to 28C are views showing an example of the printrange-designated job ticket;

FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing print processing in an electronicoriginal despooler;

FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing sheet print processing;

FIG. 31 is a view for explaining an example of “Sheet” which representsthe contents of a sheet;

FIG. 32 is a view for explaining an example of an original datastructure; and

FIG. 33 is a view for explaining an example of print data which isgenerated by a printer driver and transmitted to a printer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT First EmbodimentGeneral Description of System

A document processing system according to the first embodiment suited toan information processing system of the present invention will begenerally described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. This documentprocessing system converts a data file created by a general applicationinto an electronic original file by an electronic original writer. Abookbinding application provides a function of editing the electronicoriginal file. Details of the system will be explained below.

<System Configuration and Operation>

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the software structure of the documentprocessing system according to this embodiment. The document processingsystem is implemented by a digital computer 100 (to be also referred toas a host computer hereinafter) as an embodiment suited to theinformation processing apparatus of the present invention. A generalapplication 101 is an application program which provides functions suchas wordprocessing, spreadsheet, photo-retouch, draw, paint,presentation, and text editing. The general application 101 has aprinting function corresponding to the OS. Such applications utilize apredetermined interface (generally called GDI) provided by the OS(Operating System) in printing application data such as created documentdata or image data. To print created data, the general application 101transmits an output command (called a GDI function) which is determinedin advance for the output module of the OS providing the interface andhas an OS-dependent format. The output module which has received theoutput command converts the command into a format processible by anoutput device such as a printer, and outputs the converted command(called a DDI function). Since the format processible by the outputdevice changes depending on the type of device, the manufacturer, andthe model, a device driver is provided for each device. The OS convertsa command by using the device driver, generates print data, and combinesprint data by JL (Job Language) to generate a print job. When the OS isMicrosoft Windows, the output module is a GDI module.

An electronic original writer 102 is an improvement of the devicedriver, and is a software module provided to implement the documentprocessing system. The electronic original writer 102 does not target aspecific output device, and converts an output command into a formatprocessible by a bookbinding application 104 or printer driver 106 (tobe described later). The format (to be referred to as an electronicoriginal format hereinafter) converted by the electronic original writer102 is not particularly limited as far as each original page can beexpressed by a detailed format. Of substantial standard formats, forexample, the PDF format by Adobe Systems and the SVG format can beadopted as electronic original formats. When the application 101utilizes the electronic original writer 102, the electronic originalwriter 102 is designated as a device driver used for output, and thencaused to execute printing. An electronic original file created by theelectronic original writer 102 does not have a complete electronicoriginal file format. For this reason, the electronic original writer102 is designated as a device driver by the bookbinding application 104,and executes conversion of application data into an electronic originalfile under the management of the bookbinding application 104. Thebookbinding application 104 completes a new incomplete electronicoriginal file generated by the electronic original writer 102 as anelectronic original file having the following format. In case ofnecessity to definitely discriminate these files, a file created by theelectronic original writer 102 will be called an electronic originalfile, and an electronic original file given a structure by thebookbinding application will be called a book file. If these files neednot be particularly discriminated, a document file generated by anapplication, an electronic original file, and a book file are calleddocument files (or document data).

As described above, the electronic original writer 102 is designated asa device driver, and the general application 101 prints the data.Application data is converted into an electronic original format inpages (to be referred to as logical pages or original pages hereinafter)defined by the application 101. The converted data is stored as anelectronic original file 103 in a storage medium such as a hard disk.The hard disk may be the local drive of the computer which implementsthe document processing system of this embodiment, or when the computeris connected to a network, may be a drive provided on the network.

The bookbinding application 104 provides the user with a function ofloading and editing the electronic original file or book file 103. Thebookbinding application 104 provides no function of editing the contentsof each page, but a function of editing a chapter or book structure (tobe described later) made up of pages as a minimum unit.

To print the book file 103 edited by the bookbinding application 104,the bookbinding application 104 activates an electronic originaldespooler 105. The electronic original despooler 105 is a program moduleinstalled into the computer together with the bookbinding application.The electronic original despooler 105 is a module used to output drawingdata to a printer driver in printing a document (book file) used by thebookbinding application. The electronic original despooler 105 reads outa designated book file from the hard disk. To print each page in aformat described in the book file, the electronic original despooler 105generates an output command complying with the output module of the OSdescribed above, and outputs the command to the output module (notshown). At this time, the printer driver 106 of a printer 107 used as anoutput device is designated as a device driver. The output moduleconverts the output command received using the designated printer driver106 of the printer 107 into a device command interpretable by theprinter 107. The device command is transmitted to the printer 107, whichprints an image corresponding to the command.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware of the computer 100. InFIG. 2, a CPU 201 executes a program such as an OS, general application,or bookbinding application which is stored in the program ROM of a ROM203 or loaded from a hard disk 211 to a RAM 202, and realizes thesoftware structure in FIG. 1 or flow chart procedures (to be describedlater). The RAM 202 functions as the main memory or work area of the CPU201. A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls a key input from akeyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC)206 controls the display on a CRT display 210. A disk controller (DKC)207 controls access to the hard disk (HD) 211 or floppy disk (FD) whichstores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files,editing files (to be described later), and the like. A PRTC 208 controlssignal exchange with the connected printer 107. An NC 212 is connectedto a network, and executes communication control processing with anotherdevice connected to the network.

<Electronic Original Data Format>

Before the bookbinding application 104 is described in detail, the bookfile data format will be explained. The book file has a three-layeredstructure similar to a paper-medium book. The upper layer is called a“book”, resembles one book, and defines the attributes of the entirebook. The intermediate layer corresponds to a chapter in the book, andis also called a “chapter”. As for each chapter, its attributes can bedefined. The lower layer is a “page”, and corresponds to each pagedefined by an application program. As for each page, its attributes canbe defined. One book may include a plurality of chapters, and onechapter may include a plurality of pages.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the bookfile format. In the book file of this example, a book, chapter, and pageare represented by corresponding nodes. One book file includes one book.The book and chapter are a concept for defining a book structure, andcontain, as entities, defined attribute values and links to lowerlayers. The page has, as an entity, data of each page output from anapplication program. In addition to an attribute value, the pagecontains the entity of an original page (original page data) and a linkto each original page data. In some cases, a print page to be outputonto a paper medium or the like includes a plurality of original pages.This structure is displayed not by a link but by an attribute in thebook, chapter, or page layer.

In FIGS. 3A and 3B, a book 301 defines a book attribute, and is linkedto two chapters 302A and 302B. These links display that the chapters302A and 302B are included in the book 301. The chapter 302A is linkedto pages 303A and 303B, which represents that the chapter 302A includesthese pages. The pages 303A and 303B define attribute values, andcontain links to original page data (1) and (2) serving as entities.These links represent data (1) and (2) of original page data 304 shownin FIG. 3B, and display that the entities of the pages 303A and 303B areoriginal page data (1) and (2).

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a list of book attributes. As for an item which canbe defined repetitively on a lower layer, the attribute value of thelower layer is preferentially adopted. As for an item contained in onlythe book attribute, a value defined in the book attribute is effectiveover the book. An item repetitively defined on a lower layer is adefault value used when this item is not defined in the lower layer.Each item shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B does not always correspond to oneconcrete item, but may contain a plurality of relevant items.

FIG. 5 shows a list of chapter attributes, and FIG. 6 shows a list ofpage attributes. The relationship between chapter attributes and pageattributes is the same as that between book attributes and lower layerattributes.

Items unique to book attributes are six items: printing method, detailsof bookbinding, front/back cover, index sheet, slip sheet, andchaptering. These items are defined over the book. As printing methodattributes, three values: single-sided printing, double-sided printing,and bookbinding printing can be designated. Bookbinding printing is amethod of printing data in a format which allows bookbinding by bundlinga separately designated number of paper sheets, folding the bundle intotwo, and binding the bundle. As detailed bookbinding attributes, theopening direction and the number of paper sheets to be bundled can bedesignated when bookbinding printing is designated.

The front/back cover attribute includes designation of adding papersheets serving as front and back covers when an electronic original filecombined as a book is printed, and designation of contents to be printedon the added paper sheets. The index sheet attribute includesdesignation of inserting a deckle-edged index sheet separately preparedin a printing apparatus for chaptering, and designation of contents tobe printed on the index (deckle-edged) sheet. This attribute becomeseffective when a printing apparatus to be used is equipped with aninserter having an inserting function of inserting a paper sheetprepared separately from a print paper sheet into a desired position, orwhen a plurality of sheet cassettes can be used. This also applies tothe slip sheet attribute.

The slip sheet attribute includes designation of inserting a paper sheetfed from an inserter or sheet feed cassette for chaptering, anddesignation of a sheet feed source when a slip sheet is inserted.

The chaptering attribute includes designation of whether to use a newpaper sheet, use a new print page, or do nothing particular at a chapterbreak. In single-sided printing, the use of a new paper sheet and theuse of a new print page are the same. In double-sided printing, acontinuous chapter is not printed on one paper sheet if “the use of anew paper sheet” is designated, but may be printed on the upper andlower surfaces of one paper sheet if “the use of a new print page” isdesignated.

As for the chapter attribute, there is no item unique to the chapter,and all items overlap those of the book attribute. If the definition ofthe chapter attribute is different from that of the book attribute, avalue defined by the chapter attribute precedes. Items common to onlythe book and chapter attributes are five items: paper size, paperdirection, N-up printing designation, enlargement/reduction, anddischarge method. The N-up printing designation attribute is an item fordesignating the number of original pages included in one print page.Layouts which can be designated are 1×1, 1×2, 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, and thelike. The discharge method attribute is an item for designating whetherto staple discharged paper sheets. The effectiveness of this itemdepends on whether the printing apparatus has a staple function.

Items unique to the page attribute are a page rotation attribute, zoom,layout designation, annotation, and page division. The page rotationattribute is an item for designating the rotation angle when an originalpage is laid out on a print page. The zoom attribute is an item fordesignating the zoom ratio of an original page. The zoom ratio isdesignated based on a virtual logical page region size=100%. The virtuallogical page region is a region occupied by one original page whenoriginal pages are laid out in accordance with N-up designation or thelike. For example, the virtual logical page region is a regioncorresponding to one print page for 1×1, and a region obtained byreducing each side of one print page to about 70% for 1×2.

Attributes common to the book, chapter, and page are a watermarkattribute and header/footer attribute. The watermark is a separatelydesignated image or character string printed over data created by anapplication. The header and footer are watermarks printed at the upperand lower margins of each page. For the header and footer, items such asa page number, and time and date which can be designated by variablesare prepared. Contents which can be designated by the watermarkattribute and header/footer attribute are common to the chapter andpage, but are different in the book. The book can set the contents ofthe watermark and header/footer, and designate how to print a watermarkor header/footer throughout the book. To the contrary, the chapter andpage can designate whether to print a watermark or header/footer set bythe book on the chapter or page.

<Book File Generation Procedures>

The book file has the above-described structure and contents. Proceduresof creating a book file by the bookbinding application 104 andelectronic original writer 102 will be explained. Creation of a bookfile is realized as part of book file editing operation by thebookbinding application 104. FIG. 7 shows procedures when thebookbinding application 104 opens a book file.

Whether a book file to be opened is one to be newly created or anexisting one is checked (step S701). If YES in step S701, a book fileincluding no chapter is newly created (step S702). In the example shownin FIGS. 3A and 3B, the newly created book file is a book node which hasonly the book node 301 without any link to a chapter node. As the bookattribute, a set of attributes prepared in advance for creation of a newbook file are applied. Then, a UI (User Interface) window for editingthe new book file is displayed (step S704). FIG. 11 shows an example ofthe UI window when a book file is newly created. In this case, a UIwindow 1100 does not display any information because the book file doesnot have any substantial content.

If NO in step S701, a designated book file is opened (step S703), and aUI (User Interface) window is displayed in accordance with thestructure, attribute, and contents of the book file. FIG. 10 shows anexample of the UI window. The UI window 1100 has a tree portion 1101representing a book structure, and a preview portion 1102 displaying astate to be printed. The tree portion 1101 displays chapters included inthe book and pages included in each chapter by a tree structure as shownin FIG. 3A. Pages displayed at the tree portion 1101 are original pages.The preview portion 1102 displays reduced print page contents. Thedisplay order reflects the book structure.

Application data converted into an electronic original file by theelectronic original writer can be added as a new chapter to the openbook file. This function is called an electronic original importfunction. An electronic original is imported to the book file newlycreated by the procedures of FIG. 7, thereby giving an entity to thebook file. This function is activated by drag-and-drop operation ofapplication data to the window of FIG. 10. FIG. 8 shows electronicoriginal import procedures.

An application program which has generated designated application datais activated. The electronic original writer 102 is designated as adevice driver, and prints out application data to convert it intoelectronic original data (step S801). After conversion, whether theconverted data is image data is checked (step S802). This determinationcan be achieved based on the file extension of the application under theWindows OS. For example, an extension “bmp” represents Windows bitmapdata; “jpg”, jpeg-compressed image data; and “tiff”, tiff-format imagedata. If YES in step S802, processing in S801 can be skipped because anelectronic original file can be directly generated from image datawithout activating an application in S801.

If NO in step S802, the electronic original file generated in step S801is added as a new chapter to the book of a currently open book file(step S803). As for the chapter attribute, an attribute common to a bookattribute is set to a book attribute value, and a different attribute isset to a default value prepared in advance.

If YES in step S802, no new chapter is added in principle, and eachoriginal page included in the electronic original file generated in stepS801 is added to a designated chapter (step S804). For a file in which abook file is newly created, a new chapter is created, and each page ofthe electronic original file is added as a page belonging to thechapter. As for the page attribute, an attribute common to an upperlayer attribute is given the attribute value of the upper layerattribute, and an attribute which is defined in application data andinherited to the electronic original file is given a value defined inthe application data. For example, when N-up designation is defined inapplication data, the page inherits this attribute value. In this way, anew book file is created, or a new chapter is added.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing procedures of generating an electronicoriginal file by the electronic original writer 102 in step S801 of FIG.8. A new electronic original file is created and opened (step S901). Anapplication corresponding to designated application data is activated.The electronic original writer is set as a device driver to transmit anoutput command to the output module of the OS. The output moduleconverts the received output command into data of the electronicoriginal format by the electronic original writer, and outputs theconverted data (step S902). The output destination is the electronicoriginal file opened in step S901. Whether all designated data have beenconverted is checked (step S903), and if YES in step S903, theelectronic original file is closed (step S904). The electronic originalfile generated by the electronic original writer 102 is a filecontaining original page data entities shown in FIG. 3B.

<Editing of Book File>

As described above, a book file can be created from application data.The generated book file allows editing a chapter and page as follows.

(1) New document

(2) Delete

(3) Copy

(4) Cut

(5) Paste

(6) Move

(7) Change chapter name

(8) Reassign page number/name

(9) Insert cover

(10) Insert slip sheet

(11) Insert index sheet

(12) Page layout of each original page

In addition, an operation of canceling executed editing operation, andan operation of restoring canceled operation can be performed. Theseediting functions enable editing operations such as consolidation of aplurality of book files, rearrangement of chapters and pages within abook file, delete of chapters and pages within a book file, layoutchange of an original page, and insertion of a slip sheet and indexsheet. By these operations, operation results are reflected onattributes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 or on a book file structure. Forexample, a blank page is inserted into a designated portion by anoperation of newly adding a blank page. The blank page is processed asan original page. If the layout of an original page is changed, thechange contents are reflected on attributes such as the printing method,N-up printing, front/back cover, index sheet, slip sheet, andchaptering.

<Output of Book File>

The ultimate goal of a book file created and edited in the above manneris to print it out. The user selects a file menu from the UI window 1100of the bookbinding application shown in FIG. 10, and selects printingfrom this menu. Then, the book file is printed out from a designatedoutput device. At this time, the bookbinding application 104 creates ajob ticket from a currently open book file, and transfers the job ticketto the electronic original despooler 105. The electronic originaldespooler 105 converts the job ticket into an OS output command, e.g., aWindows GDI command, and transmits the command to an output module,e.g., GDI. The output module generates a command complying with a deviceby a designated printer driver 106, and transmits the command to thedevice.

The job ticket is data with a structure whose minimum unit is anoriginal page. The structure of the job ticket defines the layout of anoriginal page on paper. One job ticket is issued for one job. A documentnode is set at the top of the structure, and defines the attribute ofthe whole document such as double-sided printing/single-sided printing.A paper node belongs to the document node, and contains attributes suchas the identifier of paper for use and designation of a feed port in theprinter. A node for a sheet printed by the paper belongs to each papernode. One sheet corresponds to one paper sheet. A print page (physicalpage) belongs to each sheet. One physical page belongs to one sheet forsingle-sided printing, and two physical pages belong to one sheet fordouble-sided printing. An original page to be laid out on a physicalpage belongs to the physical page. The physical page attribute containsan original page layout.

The electronic original despooler 105 converts the job ticket into anoutput command to the output module.

<Another System Configuration>

The document processing system of this embodiment has generally beendescribed. This system is of stand-alone type. A server-client system asan extension of the stand-alone system also creates and edits a bookfile by almost the same arrangement and procedures. A book file andprint processing are managed by the server.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a server-clientdocument processing system. The client document processing system isconstituted by adding to the stand-alone system a DOMS (Document OutputManagement Service) driver 109 serving as a client module, a DOMS printservice module 110, and a DS (Document Service) client module 108. Aclient document processing system 1200 is connected to a documentmanagement server 1201, centralized print management server 1202, andprint server 1203. These servers are generally connected to the clientdocument processing system via a network. When the servers also functionas clients, they are connected by interprocess communication whichsimulates communication between networks. The document management server1201 and centralized print management server 1202 are connected to theclient in FIG. 12, but only either one may exist on the network. If theconnected server is the document management server, a documentmanagement server-client system 1201SC including a client module isadded to the stand-alone document management system. If the connectedserver is the centralized print management server 1202, a printmanagement server-client system 1202SC including a client module isadded.

The document management server 1201 stores a book file created andedited by the bookbinding application 104. To manage a book file by thedocument management server 1201, the book file is saved in a database1211 of the document management server 1201 instead of or in addition tothe local HD of a client PC. Save and read of a book file between thebookbinding application 104 and the document management server 1201 aredone via the DS client module 108 and a DS core 1212.

The centralized print management server 1202 manages printing of a bookfile stored in the client document processing system 1200 or documentmanagement server 1201. A print request from the client is transmittedto a DOMS WG server module 1221 of the centralized print managementserver 1202 via the DOMS driver 109 and DOMS print service module 110.To print a book file by the printer of the client, the centralized printmanagement server 1202 transfers electronic original data to theelectronic original despooler 105 via the DOMS print service module 110of the client. To print a book file by the print server 1203, thecentralized print management server 1202 transmits electronic originaldata to a DOMS print service module 1231 of the print server 1203. Forexample, the centralized print management server executes security checkon the qualification of a user who has issued a print request for asaved book file, or saves the print processing log. In this fashion, thedocument processing system can be implemented as both a stand-alonesystem and client-server system.

<Print Setting UI and Procedures>

When the above-described document processing system is to print adocument file, a target print range can be set in a unit correspondingto the settings of the document file printing method. In thisembodiment, the print range can be designated in the bookbinding unit(bundles) when bookbinding printing is designated as the printingmethod, or in chapters, print pages, or original pages when single- ordouble-sided printing is designated. The whole document can bedesignated regardless of the printing method.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the UI window of a bookbinding applicationwhen a book file in which single-sided printing is designated as theprinting method and the arrangement of one original page on one printpage is designated as the layout is opened. In this example, a book file“WORD-A4” is opened. This file is made up of chapters word-1 and word-2.Single-sided printing is designated by selecting detailed book settingfrom a “print format” menu on a UI window 1300 and selecting a radiobutton “single-sided printing” in a printing method designation column1401 on a displayed window 1400 in FIG. 14. A layout in which N originalpages are laid out on one print page is called N-up. The example of FIG.13 shows a 1-up layout.

On the UI window 1300 of FIG. 13, a tree portion 1301 displays thestructure of the currently open book file. A preview portion 1302exhibits a preview display representing a state to be printed. Thepreview display has three modes: a print view mode where a reduced printpage is displayed, a simple view mode where only the layout of a printpage is displayed, and an original view mode where the contents of anoriginal page are displayed. In FIG. 13, the print view mode isselected. The preview portion 1302 displays page images 1303representing print pages. An original page number is displayed beloweach page image 1303, and a sheet number representing the number ofprint paper sheets is displayed at the upper right position of the pageimage 1303. When single-sided printing is designated as the printingmethod and a 1-up layout is designated as the layout, one sheet (paper)corresponds to one original page. In FIG. 13, respective print pages areassigned sheet numbers and the page numbers of original pages.

To perform print setting for this book file, the user selects a filemenu from the window 1300, and designates “print setting” on the filemenu. Then, a print setting window 1500 in FIG. 15 is displayed. Theprint setting window includes a “number of copies” column 1501 and printtarget column 1502. The “number of copies” column 1501 can be designatedindependently of the printing method. In the print target column 1502,items which can be designated change depending on the settings of theprinting method. FIG. 15 shows an example when single- or double-sidedprinting is designated as the printing method. In this case, as shown inFIG. 15, “book (all)” for printing the entire book file, “chapter” forprinting a designated chapter, “page” for printing a designated page,and “bundle (booklet)” serving as a bookbinding unit designated bybookbinding printing can be designated as the print target. Designationof “bundle (booklet)” is effective only when bookbinding printing isdesignated as the printing method. “Bundle (booklet)” may be an itemselectable only when bookbinding printing is designated.

(1) Designation of Entire Range

If “book (all)” is designated in the print target column 1502, the userclicks on an OK button 1503 after designation because he/she need notdesignate the range. Then, print processing corresponding to settingsstarts. Print processing in this embodiment corresponds to not printprocessing by the printer, but processing of causing the electronicoriginal despooler by the bookbinding application 104 to generatedrawing data, and processing of causing a printer driver via the OS togenerate print data (print job).

(2) Designation by Chapter Number

When “chapter” is designated, a chapter designation column 1602 isdisplayed in the print target column 1502, and allows designating achapter to be printed, as shown in FIG. 16. For single-sided 1-upprinting, a chapter break coincides with a page break, as represented bythe preview portion of FIG. 13. The bookbinding application creates ajob ticket including a sheet corresponding to the designated chapter,and transfers the job ticket to the electronic original despooler 105 inFIG. 1.

In double-sided printing designated as the printing method, a chapterbreak does not always coincide with a sheet break. FIG. 19 is a viewshowing an example of a preview window when double-sided 1-up printingis designated for the same book file as that in FIG. 18. Because ofdouble-sided printing, two original pages are printed on the twosurfaces of one sheet. A page number is displayed every original page,similar to FIG. 18, but a sheet number is assigned every three pages. Apreview portion 1902 displays slightly shifted print pages on the twosurfaces of a sheet so as to visually confirm double-sided printing.Also in this case, a UI window for designating a print range by achapter number is identical to the window in FIG. 16. In some cases, thefirst or last sheet of a designated range may overlap two chapters. Inthe example of FIG. 19, the third page of the first chapter and thefirst page of the second chapter are printed on sheet 2. In this case,all pages on a sheet including a designated chapter are subjected toprinting. That is, when the second chapter is designated as the printtarget in FIG. 19, both page 1-3 and page 2-1 are printed. This isbecause partial printing is often executed for partial replacement.

This also applies to a book file with N-up designation for laying out aplurality of original pages on one print page. FIG. 21 shows an exampleof a UI window when 2-up designation is set for the same book file asthat in FIG. 19. A preview portion 2102 displays as the print page ofsheet 2 an image on which the third page of the first chapter and thefirst page of the second chapter are laid out. When the second chapteris designated as the print target, both page 1-3 and page 2-1 areprinted.

Also when bookbinding printing is designated as the printing method anda print range is designated by a chapter number, all pages on a sheetincluding a designated chapter are subjected to printing. FIG. 22 showsa window for designating bookbinding printing. A window 2201 in FIG. 22is displayed the same procedures as those of the window in FIG. 14.Since bookbinding printing is designated in a printing method column2202, items which can be designated are an opening direction 2203 and a“number of paper sheets” 2204 serving as a bookbinding printing unit(bundle). In this case, the bookbinding unit is two paper sheets. Nochaptering is designated, and no page break or paper change is donebetween successive chapters.

The bookbinding unit is a booklet obtained by superimposing a designatednumber of paper sheets and folding them into two. The booklet is boundinto one book. The layout is formally the same as the double-sided 2-uplayout. Original pages are laid out so as to make the facing ordercoincide with the original page order after bookbinding.

FIG. 23 shows a UI window when the bookbinding application opens a bookfile in bookbinding printing designation. The open book file includesthe first chapter “chapter 1” and the second chapter “chapter 2”. Thefirst chapter includes 15 original pages, and the second chapterincludes at least 14 original pages. A preview portion 2302 displays thepreview images of the original pages of one bundle on one row in thefacing order. The display format also complies with the facing format.In FIG. 23, the bookbinding unit is two paper sheets, and each bookletis made up of two sheets. Since two original pages are laid out on onesurface of each sheet, one booklet has eight original pages.

In bookbinding printing, a target print range is designated by a chapternumber, and then all booklets including the designated chapter areprinted. In the example of FIG. 23, for the first booklet, pages 1-4 and1-5 are printed on the upper surface of an inner sheet, and pages 1-3and 1-6 are printed on the lower surface. Pages 1-2 and 1-7 are printedon the upper surface of an outer sheet, and pages 1-1 and 1-8 areprinted on the lower surface. For the second booklet, pages 1-12 and1-13 are printed on the upper surface of an inner sheet, and pages 1-11and 1-14 are printed on the lower surface. Pages 1-10 and 1-15 areprinted on the upper surface of an outer sheet, and pages 1-9 and 2-1are printed on the lower surface. When the second chapter is designatedas a print range, the first page of the second chapter is included inthe second booklet. Thus, all booklets including the second chapter suchas the second, third, and fourth booklets are printed.

In this manner, when a chapter number is designated, all print unitsincluding the designated chapter, i.e., all sheets including thedesignated chapter in single- or double-sided printing, or all bookletsincluding the designated chapter in bookbinding printing are set as aprint range and printed.

(3) Designation by Page Number

When “page” is designated in the print target column, the print targetcolumn 1502 displays a column 1702 for designating a range by a printpage, and a column 1703 for designating a range by an original page, asshown in FIG. 17 or 18. Either of the columns can be set by selecting aradio button 1704 by the user. FIG. 17 shows an example of rangedesignation using a print page number, and FIG. 18 shows an example ofrange designation using an original page number.

When the range is designated by an original page number, a page numberis displayed as a number obtained by hyphenating a chapter number and anoriginal page in each chapter. The range is designated by converting thepage number into a serial number. This specification concerns the systemof this embodiment, and the range can also be designated by a pagenumber itself on the preview display. In this case, the notation musttake any measure to prevent confusion such that a sign representing therange is redefined to a sign other than a hyphen.

Also when the range is designated by a print page number, the range isdesignated by the serial number of the print page number.

In range designation using an original page and range designation usinga print page, similar to designation using a chapter number, all printunits including the designated page, i.e., all sheets including thedesignated page in single- or double-sided printing, or all bookletsincluding the designated page in bookbinding printing are set as a printrange and printed.

(4) Designation by Bundle (Booklet)

Designation by a bundle becomes effective for bookbinding printing. Whenbookbinding printing is designated as the printing method, as shown inFIG. 22, the user selects a “file” menu from the window of FIG. 23, andfurther selects a “print” item from the “file” menu. Then, a printsetting UI window 2400 shown in FIG. 24 is displayed. If the userselects a “bundle (booklet)” from a print target column 2401, a bundlenumber designation column 2402 is displayed. The user designates abundle to be printed in this column. The preview portion 2302 in FIG. 23displays one bundle as a set of original pages on one column. Bundlenumbers on the preview window are given in the order of bundlesdisplayed at the preview portion 2302.

When a print target is designated by a bundle unit, all pages whichconstitute the designated booklet are printed in accordance withbookbinding printing procedures.

<Print Setting Procedures>

Print range setting procedures described with reference to the UIwindows in FIGS. 13 to 24 will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 25 in terms of processing procedures by the bookbindingapplication. Procedures in FIG. 25 start when the user selects the“print setting” item from the “file menu” and the window shown in FIG.15 is displayed.

In step S2501, selection of the print target column is checked. If theselected target is “book”, the flow waits for an input. In step S2505,the flow waits for an input, and if the input is “OK button”, the flowshifts to step S2506 to generate a job ticket including the entire bookas a print target. As described above, the job ticket defines the layoutof an original page on paper (sheet). In the job ticket structure, adocument node is set at the top, and defines the attribute of the wholedocument such as double-sided printing/single-sided printing. A paper(sheet) node belongs to the document node, and contains attributes suchas the identifier of paper for use and designation of a feed port in theprinter. A print page node belongs to each paper node. One print pagebelongs to one sheet in single-sided printing, whereas two print pagesbelong to one sheet in double-sided printing. An original page laid outon a print page belongs as a leaf node to each print page node. Forexample, for 2-up designation, two original pages belong to one printpage. The print page attribute contains the original page position andsize. The job ticket has this tree structure. In step S2506, a jobticket is generated from the entire book file in accordance with thebook file structure and attributes at nodes.

In step S2510, the generated job ticket is transmitted to the electronicoriginal despooler.

If the print target is changed during waiting for an input in stepS2505, the flow returns to step S2501 to repetitively check the printtarget.

If the print target is determined in step S2501 to be “chapter”, thewindow in FIG. 16 is displayed in step S2502, and the flow waits for aninput. If the print target is changed during waiting for an input instep S2505, the flow returns to step S2501 to repetitively check theprint target.

If a chapter number is designated in the chapter designation column 1602and the OK button is clicked, the flow advances to step S2505 togenerate a job ticket for outputting all sheets including the designatedchapter. For this purpose, a job ticket is generated by referring to theprinting method, N-up designation, and book file structure contained inthe book attributes of the book file shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, andsetting sheets including the original pages of the designated chapter asa print target.

As one method, a job ticket is temporarily generated for an entire bookfile. After that, only a partial tree whose top is a sheet nodecontaining as leaf nodes original pages included in the designatedchapter is left, and a partial tree whose top is another sheet node isdeleted. In bookbinding printing, the print target is printed inbooklets even if the range is designated by a chapter. Even a sheetincluding no designated chapter is subjected to printing as far as thesheet is part of booklets including the designated chapter. The sheetnodes of the job ticket are sectioned by the number of paper sheetsdesignated as the print unit, and a job ticket is generated for, as aprint target, all sheets within sections including original pagesbelonging to the designated chapter. A job ticket for the entire bookfile can be created in accordance with N-up designation in single- ordouble-sided printing such that N original pages are laid out on eachprint page. In bookbinding printing, original pages are sectioned every(bookbinding unit×4) pages, and original pages are laid out in the frameof (bookbinding unit×4) pages in the facing order every section(=bundle).

In step S2510, the generated job ticket is transmitted to the electronicoriginal despooler 105.

If the print target is “page” in step S2501, the window in FIG. 17 isdisplayed in step S2503, and the flow waits for an input. If the printtarget is changed during waiting for an input in step S2505, the flowreturns to step S2501 to repetitively check the print target.

Which of print and original pages is targeted is designated by thebutton 1704 in FIG. 17. For the print page, if a number is input to theprint page number column 1702 and the OK button is clicked, the flowadvances to step S2508. For the original page, the window in FIG. 18 isdisplayed, and if a page number is designated in the original pagenumber column 1703 and the OK button is clicked, the flow advances tostep S2508.

If print page numbers are designated in the print page number column1702 and the OK button is clicked, the flow shifts to step S2508 togenerate a job ticket for outputting all sheets including the designatedprint pages. For this purpose, a job ticket is generated by referring tothe printing method, N-up designation, and book file structure containedin the book attributes of the book file shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, andsetting sheets including the designated print pages as a print target.

As one method, a job ticket is temporarily generated for an entire bookfile. Then, only a partial tree whose top is a sheet node containing thedesignated print pages is left, and a partial tree whose top is anothersheet node is deleted. In bookbinding printing, the print target isprinted in booklets even if the range is designated by print pages. Evena sheet including no designated print page is subjected to printing asfar as the sheet is part of booklets including the designated printpages. For this reason, the sheet nodes of the job ticket are sectionedby the number of paper sheets designated as the print unit, and a jobticket is generated for a print target represented by all sheets withinsections including the designated print pages.

If the print target is designated by an original page, a job ticket canbe generated by the above-described method of converting a “print page”into an “original page”. Since the original page number is designated bya serial number, the serial number must be converted into a chapternumber and an original page number in each chapter. By conversion, anoriginal page can be specified.

With these procedures, a job ticket is generated as the print target. Instep S2510, the generated job ticket is transmitted to the electronicoriginal despooler.

If the print target is determined in step S2501 to be “bundle”, thewindow in FIG. 24 is displayed in step S2504, and the flow waits for aninput. If the print target is changed during waiting for an input instep S2505, the flow returns to step S2501 to repetitively check theprint target.

If a bundle number is designated in the bundle number designation column2402 and the OK button is clicked, the flow advances to step S2505 togenerate a job ticket for outputting all sheets included in thedesignated bundle. Note that a bundle can be designated only inbookbinding printing.

As one method, a job ticket for an entire book file is temporarilygenerated in a bookbinding printing format in which original pages arelaid out on print pages in the facing order every booklet (bundle). Thegenerated job ticket can express a bundle by a sheet node sectioned bythe bookbinding unit. For example, for a bookbinding unit of two papersheets, every two sheet nodes are sectioned in the print order, and eachsection corresponds to a bundle. Sheet nodes not contained in thedesignated bundle are deleted from the job ticket, thereby generatingthe job ticket including the designated bundle. In bookbinding printing,original pages are laid out in the facing order every booklet ingenerating a job ticket.

In step S2510, the generated job ticket is transmitted to the electronicoriginal despooler.

With these procedures, a job ticket including a designated portion canbe generated. Upon reception of the job ticket, the electronic originaldespooler converts the job ticket into a command complying with theoutput module of the operating system, and transmits the command to theoutput module. By using the device driver of a printer or the like whichactually performs printing, the output module generates a print commandin a format complying with the printer, transmits the command to theprinter, and causes the printer to print data.

<Another Arrangement>

In the above embodiment, sheets including a designated range are printedin booklets in bookbinding printing. If, however, the number of papersheets as the bookbinding unit is large or the entire book file isdesignated as the bookbinding unit, the advantage of a small number ofpaper sheets required is impaired. To prevent this, when a print rangeis designated by a chapter, print page, or original page, sheetsincluding the designated range can also be printed. In this case,printing can be achieved by almost the same procedures as thosedescribed above. Processing procedures become simpler because bundlesincluding the designated range need not be determined. This can alsodecrease the number of paper sheets to be printed.

The range can also be designated in the paper unit. The sheet is one ofthe nodes of a job ticket, and designation by sheets is always completedwithin a designated range. A partial job ticket including a designatedrange can easily be created. Since the sheet number is displayed at theupper right corner of each sheet at the preview portion, the user caneasily specify a sheet on the preview window. When sheets are designatedas the print range, the nodes of undesignated sheets are deleted from ajob ticket for the entire book file, thereby generating a job ticket forprinting the designated range. This processing is easy to performbecause designated sheet numbers correspond to the order of sheet nodesin the job ticket.

This embodiment leaves only a necessary portion in a job ticket for anentire file in generating a partial printing job ticket. Only anecessary portion can be selected to reconstruct a job ticket. Theresource necessary for job ticket generation can be saved by deleting anunnecessary portion while generating a job ticket for an entire bookfile.

<Example of Detailed Partial Printing Procedures>

As the partial printing method, it is also possible to add aninstruction which designates a print range to a job ticket, and read outa job ticket portion necessary for partial printing by the electronicoriginal despooler, instead of deleting an unnecessary portion from thejob ticket. This example will be described.

(Designation of Whole Document (Book))

FIG. 26 is a view schematically showing an example of the job ticketformat. In the job ticket of this example, pieces of information such asthe contents of one document and a print instruction are expressed by ahierarchical structure. A print instruction is contained in“ResourcePool” 2601, and a document print instruction is described in“PrintParams” 2602 and subsequent nodes. Information about each sheet isdescribed in “Sheet” 2603 and subsequent nodes, and information about aprint page (physical page) laid out on each sheet is described in“Surface” 2604 and subsequent nodes. The “Surface” 2604 contains alayout instruction for an original page on a print page.

In the flow chart of FIG. 25, in step S2506 of generating a job ticketfor printing an entire book, a print range instruction 2701“PrintSheetList=“1 −1”” is generated, as shown in FIG. 27. In thisexample, a character string which represents the print range adopts thefollowing format. In FIG. 27, the print range instruction 2701 isunderlined for illustrative convenience.

Sheet numbers which designate sheets are expressed sequentially by 1, 2,3, . . . from the first sheet of a document or by −1, −2, −3, . . . fromthe last sheet.

Sheet numbers subjected to printing are designated by space separation.For example, to designate the third and fifth sheets, they are expressedby “3 5”.

To designate successive sheets, they can be expressed by “(first sheetnumber) (last sheet number)”. For example, to designate the first tothird sheets, they are expressed by “1 3”.

In the example of FIG. 27, the print range is designated by thedescription “PrintSheetList” in the sheet (paper) unit. In step S2506,“1 −1” which designates the first to last sheets is generated as rangedesignation which designates an entire book as the output range. “1 −1”is added immediately after “PrintSheetList”. The generated description“PrintSheetList=“1 −1”” for designating the range is inserted into a jobticket as one of items contained in the “PrintParams” 2602.

(Designation by Chapter)

In step S2507 of generating a job ticket for printing a designatedchapter, original pages included in the designated chapter are checked.Original pages can be checked using the chapter attributes and pageattribute hierarchy shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Then, print pages on whichthe obtained original pages are to be laid out are checked. Print pagescan be checked based on information about the original page layout(printing method, N-up printing, and the like) among the book andchapter attributes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The number of original pages laid out on one surface of one sheet is N(N is the number of original pages laid out on one physical page in N-upprinting designation). The number of original pages laid out on onesheet is N for single-sided printing designation or 2N for double-sidedprinting designation. The relationship between the number of originalpages and the number of sheets is the number of original pages/N(single-sided designation) or the number of original pages/2N(double-sided designation). If paper change is designated betweenchapters, a new chapter is always printed on a new sheet. If a pagebreak is designated between chapters, a new chapter is always printed ona new print page. Considering these settings, sheets including thedesignated chapter are specified. More specifically, step S2507 canemploy the following procedures as an example.

(1) The number (P) of sheets is counted for a chapter before thedesignated chapter. The number (P) of sheets is calculated based on thenumber of sheets of a chapter=the number of original pages included inthe chapter/N (single-sided designation) or the number of originalpages/2N (double-sided designation). When double-sided printing isdesignated and a page break between chapters is not designated, thenumber of sheets is calculated not for each chapter but for successivechapters at once. The number of original pages included in the chaptercorresponds to the number of leaf nodes branched from the chapter nodes302A and 302B in FIG. 3A.

(2) If paper change is designated between chapters, the next chapter isprinted on a new sheet (P+1).

(3) If a page break is designated between chapters, the next chapter isprinted on the lower surface of the same sheet (P) as that of the lastpage of the previous chapter in double-sided designation, or printed ona new sheet (P+1) in single-sided printing designation.

(4) (1) to (3) are repeated for all chapters before the designatedchapter to obtain a sheet (Pstart) to which the first page of thedesignated chapter belongs.

(5) The number (P′) of sheets is counted following the same procedure asprocedure (1) for the designated chapter.

(6) The print range is set to “Pstart Pstart+P′”.

By these procedures, a range designated by a chapter can be convertedinto sheets. When a plurality of chapters are designated, the procedurescan be independently applied to the designated chapters.

The procedures are also executed to display a GUI window as shown inFIG. 21. If the correspondence between sheets, original pages, and achapter is determined in the display of the GUI window, the informationis saved. When a print range is designated, the sheet range can bedetermined by referring to the saved information.

In bookbinding printing designation, the print range based on a chapteris designated by bundles. Bundles including the designated chapter aremade to correspond to a sheet range, thus determining the sheet range tobe printed. In bookbinding printing designation, the number of sheets ofone bundle×4 equals the number of original pages printed on one bundle.If paper change is designated between chapters and the last page numberof the chapter is an odd number, the number of bundles to which only achapter before the designated chapter belongs is determined on theassumption that a blank page is inserted immediately after the lastpage. The number of bundles counted in this way is multiplied by thenumber of sheets of one bundle and converted into the number (P) ofsheets.

The first sheet number (P+1) of a bundle to which the designated chapterbelongs is the start of a range to be printed. The number of bundlesincluding the designated chapter is immediately obtained from the numberof original pages of the designated chapter. At this time, the number ofbundles is determined including the number of original pages of achapter other than the designated chapter that is contained in the firstbundle. The last sheet of the last bundle including the designatedchapter is the end of the range to be printed.

The range determined in this fashion is added immediately after“PrintSheetList”, and the resultant description is inserted in the“PrintParams” 2602.

For example, when the second chapter of the double-sided 1-up documentshown in FIG. 19 is designated as the print target, the number of sheetsof a chapter before the designated second chapter, i.e., the firstchapter is three. Original pages included in the second chapter are fivepages 2-1 to 2-5, and sheets on which these original pages are laid outare three sheets 2 to 4. In this case, the print range can be designatedby an expression “PrintSheetList=“2 4””.

(Designation by Original Page)

In step S2508 of generating a job ticket for printing a designated page(original page), a print page on which the designated original page islaid out is checked. This processing is the same as processing executedwhen a chapter is designated. More specifically, almost the sameprocedures in chapter designation can be adopted by replacing “chapter”in (1) to (6) with “original page”. In procedure (1), the number ofsheets per original page is calculated. In step S2508, the calculatedvalue must be multiplied by the number of original pages before thedesignated original page, thereby converting the print range into thenumber of sheets.

If the converted number of sheets is not an integer, the designatedoriginal page may be printed on the same sheet as the preceding page.The print range must be adjusted in accordance with chapteringdesignation.

(a) When neither page break nor paper change of chaptering isdesignated, the integer part of the converted number of sheetscorresponds to the number of sheets before a sheet on which thedesignated original page is to be printed.

(b) If a page break is designated, the number of original pages obtainedfrom data in FIGS. 3A and 3B is not directly adopted as the number ofpages of a chapter of interest. Instead, a minimum multiple of N largerthan the number of pages of the chapter of interest is adopted as thenumber of original pages of the chapter of interest. Then, the number oforiginal pages is converted into the number of sheets by theabove-described procedures. This also applies to a case wherein paperchange and single-sided printing are designated. When paper change anddouble-sided printing are designated, a minimum multiple of 2N largerthan the number of pages of a chapter of interest is adopted as thenumber of pages of the chapter of interest. Note that N represents thenumber of original pages laid out on one print page in N-up printingdesignation. This procedure converts a blank generated by chapteringinto a blank original page.

Assume that original pages 2-1 and 2-5 of the document shown in FIG. 19are designated as the print target. Since double-sided printing isdesignated, the number of sheets per original page is 1/2. Sincechaptering is not designated, the number of sheets before the designatedpage 2-1 is the integer part of 3/2 (=3 (number of original pages)×1/2(number of sheets/original page)), i.e., P=1. A sheet including thedesignated original page is P+1=the second page. Similarly, originalpage 2-5 is included in the fourth sheet. That is, sheets including thedesignated original pages are two sheets 2 and 4. In this case, theprint range is designated by an expression “PrintSheetList=“2 4””.

(Designation by Bundle (Booklet))

In step S2509 of generating a job ticket for printing a bundledesignated in bookbinding printing, sheets including the designatedbundle are obtained. For example, to print the second bundle in aninstruction of sectioning bundles every five sheets in bookbindingprinting, five sheets 6 to 10 are subjected to printing. The print rangeis designated by an expression “PrintSheetList=“6 10””.

The electronic original despooler receives the job ticket generated bythe above processing, and determines that the print target is onlysheets designated by “PrintSheetList”. The electronic original despoolerconverts the job ticket into a command complying with the output moduleof the operating system in accordance with an instruction whichdesignates only the corresponding sheets. Then, the electronic originaldespooler transmits the command to the output module. FIGS. 28A to 28Cshow one job ticket. In the example of the job ticket shown in FIGS. 28Ato 28C, “PrintSheetList=“1” (print the first sheet)” in “PrintParams” isread out. Only a sheet belonging to “Signature” of designated “Layout”(only bold “Signature” portion in FIG. 28B) is set as the print target,and a command is generated.

In this fashion, sheet information to be printed can be added todesignate a print range, in place of expressing, by job tickets whichdesignate sheets to be printed, print ranges designated by a pluralityof print range designation methods and removing unnecessary portion fromthe job tickets. An arbitrary portion of a document can be designated asthe print target by only rewriting part of a job ticket. A job ticketwhich designates a print range can be created easily (high speed), andthe print range can be changed.

<Print Processing in Electronic Original Despooler>

Print processing in the electronic original despooler will be explainedin more detail. The electronic original despooler converts drawing dataof an original page into an OS output command (e.g., Windows GDIcommand) in accordance with a print instruction, and transfers a drawingcommand to the printer via the printer driver.

A job ticket describes sheet information sequentially from the firstsheet. To print the Nth sheet, the Nth “Sheet” portion from the start ofthe job ticket is read out to acquire sheet information of the printtarget. “Sheet” contains one “Surface” for single-sided printing and two“Surface”s for double-sided printing. “Surface” describes information ofa print page (physical page). Further, “Surface” contains“ContentObject” which is information about an original page to be drawnon the print page.

FIG. 29 shows the flow chart of print processing in the electronicoriginal despooler. In step S2901, the electronic original despooleracquires, from a job ticket, information necessary to output a jobinitialization command. The initialization command is formed fromparameters designated for a whole print job, such as information foridentifying a destination printer, designated resolution, and the numberof copies. The initialization command is designated in “PrintParams” or“Device” subsequent to “ResourcePool” of the job ticket. The electronicoriginal despooler acquires these values, designates an outputdestination printer in accordance with the print processing method ofthe OS, and outputs parameters such as resolution and the number ofcopies designated for the entire job. In step S2902, the electronicoriginal despooler acquires a “PrintSheetList” value from the job ticketin order to acquire the print range. In step S2903, the electronicoriginal despooler generates a list of sheet numbers to be actuallyprinted on the basis of the “PrintSheetList” contents. For example, forPrintSheetList=“1 3 6 8 10”, the electronic original despooler generatesa list of sheet numbers to be printed (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10). In stepsS2904 to S2907, the electronic original despooler extracts the firstsheet number on the list (step S2905), performs print processing of thesheet (step S2906), and deletes the first sheet number from the list(step S2907). The electronic original despooler repetitively performsthis processing until print processing of all sheets included in thelist ends. When the print range is all sheets, the electronic originaldespooler can print the sheets sequentially from the first sheet withoutprocessing of generating a list and specifying sheets to be printed.

FIG. 30 shows the flow chart of sheet print processing in step S2906 ofFIG. 29. “Signature” 2605 in FIG. 26 contains the definition of sheetattributes (e.g., paper size and feed port), and is constituted tocontain sheets having the same sheet attribute. In step S3001, theelectronic original despooler reads out “Signature” informationcontaining a sheet designated as the print target. If the sheetattribute is different from a preceding state, the electronic originaldespooler outputs a command (paper size or feed port change command orthe like) in accordance with the print processing method of the OS.

In step S3002, the electronic original despooler acquires print page(Surface) information which is included in the sheet (Sheet) to beprinted and whose print command has not been output yet. FIG. 31 shows asample of the “Sheet” 2603. The “Sheet” contains two “Surface”s 3101 and3102, which represent print pages on the upper and lower surfaces of onesheet. In step S3002, the electronic original despooler reads out piecesof print page information (“Surface”s 3101 and 3102) on the surfaces,and further reads out pieces of original page information(“ContentObject” 3103) contained in the print pages. The electronicoriginal despooler converts drawing information contained in theoriginal pages into a command complying with the output module of theOS, and executes print processing. “Ord” of “ContetnObject” representsan original page number. The electronic original despooler converts adrawing object such as a text, graphic, or image included in an originalpage represented by the original page number into a print command inaccordance with the OS. The printer driver converts the print commandinto a drawing command interpretable by the printer, and printing isexecuted. In the example of FIG. 31, “Ord” represents original pagenumbers 0, 1, 2, and 3.

FIG. 32 shows an example of the original data structure. Drawing objectsincluded in each original page are recorded for each original page. Theattributes (font attribute, line attribute, and the like) of a text andgraphic referred to by a drawing object may be recorded at a portionother than original pages in order to share these attributes between aplurality of drawing objects, and each original page portion may haveonly link information to attributes. This structure enables efficientlysaving data. In step S3003, the electronic original despooler acquiresthe drawing objects of the designated original from original data on thebasis of original page numbers which are designated by “Ord” of“ContentObject” and acquired in step S3002. The electronic originaldespooler converts the drawing objects into a print command inaccordance with the OS.

In the example of FIG. 31, one “Surface” contains two “ContentObject”s,which means 2-up printing (two original pages are imposed on one printpage). CTM designation contained in “ContentObject” of FIG. 31represents affine transformation, which means an instruction ofdesignating the position, size, and rotation angle and laying out thedrawing contents of an original page on a print page. Although detailswill be omitted, it is possible to designate the drawing position, size,and rotation angle in accordance with the OS, convert a drawing objectincluded in an original page into a print command, and draw the objecton a print page. Steps S3003 and S3004 are repetitively executed for alloriginal pages included in the print page, thereby generating a printpage drawing command. In double-sided printing, one sheet includes twoprint pages, and processing from steps S3002 to S3005 is executed forthe lower surface. In this manner, print processing of one sheet can beexecuted.

FIG. 33 shows an example of print data which is generated by the printerdriver and transmitted to the printer. Reference numeral 3301 denotes ajob initialization command portion output in step S2901 of FIG. 29; 3302and 3306, sheet initialization command portions output in step S3001 ofFIG. 30; and 3303, 3304, 3305, and 3307, drawing commands each for oneprint page output in steps S3002 to S3005 of FIG. 30.

Print data can be generated in accordance with a print range designatedby a job ticket, and only print data of a designated sheet can beprinted.

Advantages of System of Embodiment

As described above, printing of only a desired portion can be designatedby a page number, chapter number, or bundle while a preview imagedisplayed on the preview portion is checked. Since the preview windowdisplays a preview image which faithfully expresses a layout to beprinted out, the user can accurately designate a print range byreferring to the preview image.

The range can be designated in various units such as a chapter, printpage, original page, and booklet. The user can select a target printrange or a unit which facilitates specifying a replacement portion afterprinting.

Together with a designated range, an undesignated portion to be printedon the same sheet as that of the range is also printed. Only bydesignating a page or chapter whose contents have been changed, the usercan print the changed page or chapter in sheets or booklets to bereplaced. This provides high operability and minimizes designationerrors of the print range. In bookbinding printing, the page or chapteris printed in booklets including the designated range, which greatlyfacilitates replacement. In bookbinding printing, the page or chapter isprinted in sheets including the designated range, which preventsexcessively increasing a necessary number of paper sheets.

As has been described above, the present invention can facilitatedesignating a target print range in a document, and increase theavailability and productivity.

When a target print range is designated, an original page to be printedon the same sheet as that of the range is also printed. Sheetreplacement work after printing can be easily performed.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

1. An information processing apparatus which sets, for document dataincluding a plurality of original pages, print setting informationincluding print format setting information, comprising: a print settingunit adapted to set the print format setting information indicating anumber of original pages to be laid out on a single print sheet; adesignation unit adapted to designate a print range to be printed usingserial numbers which indicate an output order of print sheets on whichthe document data is printed by a printing apparatus, wherein the outputorder is an output order of print sheets output in a case where saiddocument data of all original pages and said print format settinginformation is used; a determination unit adapted to determine originalpages to be laid out on a print sheet corresponding to the serialnumbers designated by said designation unit using the print formatsetting information set by said setting unit and the serial numbersdesignated by said designation unit; and a generating unit adapted togenerate output data such that the printing apparatus performs printprocessing based on original page to be laid out on the print sheetdetermined by said determination unit.
 2. An apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a selection unit adapted to select a methodfor designating the range to be printed from a first method and a secondmethod, the first method using the original page generated by anapplication and the second method using the serial number of the printsheet to be printed by the printing apparatus, wherein, when the secondmethod is selected by said selection unit, said designation unitdesignates the range to be printed by the serial number of the printsheet to be printed by the printing apparatus, and wherein, when thefirst method is selected by said selection unit, said designation unitdesignates the range to be printed by the original page.
 3. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a print preview unit adapted todisplay a preview image of each original page of the document dataaccording to the print format setting set by said print setting unit, inadvance of printing.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a print preview unit adapted to display a preview image ofeach original page of the document data in units of booklet in anopening direction of the booklet, in a case that the print formatsetting information is set as a bookbinding setting by said printsetting unit, in advance of printing.
 5. An information processingapparatus which sets, for document data including a plurality oforiginal pages, print setting information including print format settinginformation, comprising: a print setting unit adapted to set bookbindingprinting information as the print format setting information, whereinthe bookbinding printing information is setting information foroutputting a booklet made by folding a designated number of print sheetsin two; a designation unit adapted to designate a printing range to beprinted using a serial number indicating an output order of the bookletin which the document data is printed in a case where the bookbindingprinting information, where said document data is divided into aplurality of booklets, is set as the print format setting information,wherein the output order is an output order of the booklets output in acase where all original pages of said document data and said printformat setting information is used; a determination unit adapted todetermine which original page is laid out in the designated booklet,based on the printing range designated by said designation unit; and agenerating unit adapted to generate output data such that a printingapparatus performs print processing based on original page to be laidout on the booklet determined by said determination unit.
 6. Aninformation processing method of setting, for document data including aplurality of original pages, print setting information including printformat setting information, comprising the steps of: setting the printformat setting information indicating a number of original pages to belaid out on a single print sheet; designating a print range to beprinted using serial numbers which indicate an output order of printsheets on which the document data is printed by a printing apparatus,wherein the output order is an output order of print sheets output in acase where said document data of all original pages and said printformat setting information is used; determining original pages to belaid out on a print sheet corresponding to the serial numbers designatedin said designating step using the print format setting information setin said setting step and the serial numbers designated in saiddesignating step; and generating output data such that the printingapparatus performs print processing based original page to be laid outon the print sheet determined in said determining step.
 7. A methodaccording to claim 6, further comprising a selecting step of selecting amethod for designating the range to be printed from a first method and asecond method, the first method using the original page generated by anapplication and the second method using the serial number of the printsheet to be printed by the printing apparatus, wherein, when the secondmethod is selected in said selecting step, the range to be printed isdesignated in said designating step by the serial number of the printsheet to be printed by the printing apparatus, and wherein, when thefirst method is selected in said selecting step, the range to be printedis designated in said designating step by the original page.
 8. A methodaccording to claim 6, further comprising a print previewing step ofdisplaying a preview image of each original page of the document dataaccording to the print format setting set in said print setting step, inadvance of printing.
 9. A method according to claim 6 further comprisinga print previewing step of displaying a preview image of each originalpage of the document data in units of booklet in an opening direction ofthe booklet, in a case that the print format setting information is setas a bookbinding setting in said print setting step, in advance ofprinting.
 10. An information processing method of setting, for documentdata including a plurality of original pages, print setting informationincluding print format setting information, comprising the steps of:setting bookbinding printing information as the print format settinginformation, wherein the bookbinding printing information is settinginformation for outputting a booklet made by folding a designated numberof print sheets in two; designating a printing range to be printed usinga serial number indicating an output order of the booklet in which thedocument data is printed in a case where the bookbinding printinginformation, where said document data is divided into a plurality ofbooklets, is set as the print format setting information, wherein theoutput order is an output order of the booklets output in a case whereall original pages of said document data and said print format settinginformation is used; determining which original page is laid out in 15the designated booklet, based on the printing range designated in saiddesignating step; and generating output data such that a printingapparatus performs print processing based on original page to be laidout on the booklet determined in said determining step.
 11. A computerreadable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer toperform an information processing method of setting, for document dataincluding a plurality of original pages, print setting informationincluding print format setting information, said method comprising thesteps of: setting the print format setting information indicating anumber of original pages to be laid out on a single print sheet;designating a print range to be printed using serial numbers whichindicate an output order of print sheets on which the document data isprinted by a printing apparatus, wherein the output order is an outputorder of print sheets output in a case where said document data of alloriginal pages and said print format setting information is used;determining original pages to be laid out on a print sheet correspondingto the serial numbers designated in said designating step using theprint format setting information set in said setting step and the serialnumbers designated in said designating step; and generating output datasuch that the printing apparatus performs print processing based onoriginal page to be laid out on the print sheet determined in saiddetermining step.
 12. A medium according to claim 11, said methodfurther comprising a selecting step of selecting a method fordesignating the range to be printed from a first method and a secondmethod, the first method using the original page generated by anapplication and the second method using the serial number of the printsheet to be printed by the printing apparatus, wherein, when the secondmethod is selected in said selecting step, the range to be printed isdesignated in said designating step by the serial number of the printsheet to be printed by the printing apparatus, and wherein, when thefirst method is selected in said selecting step, the range to be printedis designated in said designating step by the original page.
 13. Amedium according to claim 11, said method further comprising a printpreviewing step of displaying a preview image of each original page ofthe document data according to the print format setting set in saidprint setting step, in advance of printing.
 14. A medium according toclaim 11, said method further comprising a print previewing step ofdisplaying a preview image of each original page of the document data inunits of booklet in an opening direction of the booklet, in a case thatthe print format setting information is set as a bookbinding setting insaid print setting step, in advance of printing.
 15. A computer readablestorage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform aninformation processing method of setting, for document data including aplurality of original pages, print setting information including printformat setting information, said method comprising the steps of: settingbookbinding printing information as the print format settinginformation, wherein the bookbinding printing information is settinginformation for outputting a booklet made by folding a designated numberof print sheets in two; designating a printing range to be printed usinga serial number indicating an output order of the booklet in which thedocument data is printed in a case where the bookbinding printinginformation, where said document data is divided into a plurality ofbooklets, is set as the print format setting information, wherein theoutput order is an output order of the booklets output in a case whereall original pages of said document data and said print format settinginformation is used; determining which original page is laid out in thedesignated booklet, based on the printing range designated in saiddesignating step; and generating output data such that a printingapparatus performs print processing based on original page to be laidout on the booklet determined in said determining step.